Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for mimicking the anatomy and physiology of a pregnancy comprising: a body defining a central cavity, inlet and outlet apertures in fluid communication with the central cavity of the body, wherein the central cavity comprises decidual cells; a first plurality of chambers in fluid communication with the central cavity, wherein the first plurality of fetal chambers comprise cells of fetal origin; a second plurality of chambers in fluid communication with the central cavity opposite the first plurality of chambers, wherein the first plurality of fetal chambers comprise cells of maternal origin; a third chamber in fluid communication with the central cavity, wherein the first plurality of fetal chambers comprise cells of the myometrium; wherein the integration of inputs and outputs from the central chamber, the first, second, and third pluralities of chambers mimics the anatomy and physiology of a pregnancy.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to apparatus that can be utilize for non-invasive monitoring of tissues and other cultures. In one example, an apparatus includes a cell culture well including a first cylindrical member defining a first inner space, a second cylindrical member defining a second inner space, and a channel extending between the first and second inner spaces. The cell culture well includes a column extending upward within the first inner space and an opening provided at a bottom of the second inner space. A sensor can extend through the opening into the second inner space. The sensor can be a columnar sensor that extends upward within the second inner space. A tissue sample can be provided within the cell culture well, where the tissue sample extends between the column and the sensor, and tissue sample activity can be monitored in real-time via the sensor.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an organ-chip model having a plurality of cell culture chambers connected through arrays of microfluidic channels. In some embodiments, each cell culture chamber of the plurality of cell culture chambers include an inlet and an outlet. In some embodiments, the inlet is configured to receive at least one of a cell, cell media, or a cell stimulant. In some embodiments, at least one outlet is configured to collect effluent. In some embodiments, the organ-chip model can include, without limitation, an organ-chip model of amnion membrane, an organ-chip model of a feto-maternal interface (fetal membrane-decidua parietalis), an organ-chip model of a feto-maternal interface (placenta-decidua interface), an organ-chip model of a cervix, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the organ-chip model is an interconnected organ-chip model having a combination of one or more organ-chip models with interconnected cell culture chambers.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for determining an increased risk of maternal cardiovascular disease caused by an infection comprising: obtaining, or having obtained, a biological sample from a subject at risk of, of having had a pre-term birth; measuring fetal microchimeric cells or fetal extracellular vesicles in the biological sample; and using a machine learning algorithm calculating a risk of cardiovascular disease based on the an increase or a decrease in fetal microchimeric cells in the biological sample when compared to a maternal sample from a subject that does not have an infection.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of treating a pregnant female subject at risk of preterm birth, comprising administering to the pregnant female subject an effective amount of an exosome that comprises a nucleic acid that expresses IL-10 or that comprises IL-10, wherein the effective amount of the IL-10 is effective to reduce, prevent or delay preterm birth

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for determining pre-term birth or an associated clinical condition or an increased risk of pre-term birth or an associated clinical condition based on the presence and/or increased amount of specific amnion and/or chorion cells in a blood sample from a pregnant woman.

Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions containing extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and methods of using the same for increasing lifespan of fetus, viability of fetus, or viability of newborn, for treating inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, for delaying preterm birth, or for treating a condition related to inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, wherein the extracellular vesicles comprising a nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-?B) inhibitor and a photo-specific binding protein.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an organ-chip model having a plurality of cell culture chambers connected through arrays of microfluidic channels. In some embodiments, each cell culture chamber of the plurality of cell culture chambers include an inlet and an outlet. In some embodiments, the inlet is configured to receive at least one of a cell, cell media, or a cell stimulant. In some embodiments, at least one outlet is configured to collect effluent. In some embodiments, the organ-chip model can include, without limitation, an organ-chip model of amnion membrane, an organ-chip model of a feto-maternal interface (fetal membrane-decidua parietalis), an organ-chip model of a feto-maternal interface (placenta-decidua interface), an organ-chip model of a cervix, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the organ-chip model is an interconnected organ-chip model having a combination of one or more organ-chip models with interconnected cell culture chambers.

Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions containing extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and methods of using the same for increasing lifespan of fetus, viability of fetus, or viability of newborn, for treating inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, for delaying preterm birth, or for treating a condition related to inflammation in uterus and/or fetus, wherein the extracellular vesicles comprising a nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-?B) inhibitor and a photo-specific binding protein.

Abstract: Assay methods for identifying an increased risk of preterm delivery induced by premature rupture of the fetal membranes are provided. More specifically, the invention provides salivary protease assays indicative of amniochorion and fetal membrane concentrations of proteases involved in the degradation of the fetal membranes leading to rupture. An increase in salivary protease levels beyond normal or individual baseline provides an indication that protease levels in fetal membranes and/or the amniotic fluid are abnormally elevated. Abnormally elevated protease levels define an increased risk of a premature delivery caused by rupture of the fetal membranes. Thus, abnormally high levels of salivary protease levels indicates elevated risk of PROM, and provides an indication for therapeutic intervention to prevent PROM-induced preterm labor.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of preterm labor and premature rupture of fetal membranes are provided. The methods of the invention inhibit the upregulated production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in amniochorionic membranes, including IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-&agr;, and inhibit preterm labor and the premature rupture of fetal membranes. The practice of the method of the invention using the cytokine IL-10 is specifically described. IL-10 demonstrates the capacity to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine production in amniochorionic membranes in vitro as well as the capacity to inhibit uterine contractility and preterm labor in rhesus monkeys in vivo. The methods of the invention may be particularly useful in preventing infection-induced preterm labor and premature rupture of fetal membranes as well as preterm labors with a non-infectious etiology.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of preterm labor and premature rupture of fetal membranes are provided. The methods of the invention inhibit the upregulated production of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in amniochorionic membranes, including IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-&agr;, and inhibit preterm labor and the premature rupture of fetal membranes. The practice of the method of the invention using the cytokine IL-10 is specifically described. IL-10 demonstrates the capacity to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine production in amniochorionic membranes in vitro as well as the capacity to inhibit uterine contractility and preterm labor in rhesus monkeys in vivo. The methods of the invention may be particularly useful in preventing infection-induced preterm labor and premature rupture of fetal membranes as well as preterm labors with a non-infectious etiology.